NNUH nurses highlight scheme ahead of Sun Awareness Week

Kelly Almand-Chinn presenting school assembly

Nurses from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) are inviting primary schools to help raise awareness on the importance of sun safety, by taking part in the Sun Safe Schools accreditation scheme. The scheme has been developed by SKCIN, a UK skin cancer charity.

The invitation comes ahead of Sun Awareness Week (May 14th-20th 2018), a national campaign around skin cancer run by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).

Diva Medeiros, NNUH Registered Nurse and Kelly Almand-Chinn, a NNUH Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist also work as ambassadors for SKCIN (The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity) as part of their clinical role to help the charity with its aims to prevent skin cancer, promote early detection and save lives.

Kelly said: “We’re inviting primary schools to take part in the accreditation between May and July. This is the second year we’ve worked with the charity on the Sun Safe Schools accreditation scheme to help educate the young Norfolk community on how to protect themselves in the sun. From the 16 schools that took part in the scheme last year, we’ve received some fantastic feedback on how beneficial the scheme has been for their schools. We’re very passionate about educating young people on how to keep safe in the sun – it’s a key part of our clinical role.”

As part of the accreditation, Kelly and Diva and NNUH Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist , Gemma Hewitt, carry out assemblies at primary schools about how to keep safe in the sun and provide educational materials for children. Kelly, Diva and Gemma are currently offering the scheme to primary schools in Norfolk and north Suffolk.

Diva said: “If we can teach children whilst they are young about the importance of looking after your skin, then this is something that they can understand from an early age. It’s been fantastic to work with so many schools already, but we’re looking forward to working with more schools especially as we come into the summer months.”

Nick Levell, Consultant Dermatologist and President of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “NNUH is one of the country’s leading skin cancer centres and it is important we raise awareness of the dangers of over exposure to UV to the local Norfolk population. We’re very grateful for the passionate and dedicated work carried out by Kelly, Diva and Gemma and we do hope many more primary schools will get involved in the scheme.”

Eli White, a Community Values Team Leader from Queen’s Hill Primary School explains how much the scheme benefitted their school. She said: “We’d like to thank Kelly and Diva for coming to our school and making us aware of the project. We are now an affiliated school and the resources from the website are amazing. It was also kind of Diva to leave the song for us to practice at school with our younger children. We look forward to working with them again in the future.”

For more information on how your school can be involved, please get in touch with either Kelly or Diva via kelly.almand@nnuh.nhs.uk or diva.medeiros@nnuh.nhs.uk

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018 08:42:35 AM